Thai Environmental Engineering Journal

Lithium Iron Phosphate, Nickel Manganese Cobalt, and Sodium-Ion Batteries: A Life Cycle Perspective on Battery Choices for Electric Vehicles

Ali Rana — 2026-04-28

A comparative Life Cycle Assessment was conducted to analyze the environmental impact of three electric vehicle batteries, viz., Sodium-ion Battery (NIB), Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC), and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP). The functional unit of 1 kWh of battery capacity was defined, with a cradle-to-grave boundary including the production of the batteries in China, usage in Thailand, and the recycling of the batteries at the end of the lifecycle in China. The ReCiPe 2016 life cycle assessment method was used considering both the midpoint and endpoint environmental impacts. The findings indicated that the production stage added much to the total environmental burdens, especially on the NMC battery, on account of the intensive mining and refining of nickel, cobalt, and manganese. Conversely, the LFP battery had overall moderate impact in most of the categories, as it is made of simpler materials and does not contain any critical metals. The NIB battery had the lowest impact and had greater chances of future development, bearing in mind the large resources of sodium and less reliance on the scarce minerals. Nevertheless, the use stage in Thailand caused rather similar high emissions for LFP and NIB and lower emission for NMC battery as the electricity mix is dominated by fossil fuels. In general, the paper concludes that LFP is now the most environmentally appropriate choice, and NIB represents a promising alternative that should be optimized. To reduce the environmental impacts of future battery systems, a focus on clean energy, low-impact manufacturing, and effective recycling strategies is essential.

The Role of Street Trees in Mitigating Particulate Matter Pollution: A Case Study of PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ Concentrations in Urban Street Canyon

Pasita Ngowpradit — 2026-04-28

This study evaluates the effectiveness of street trees in reducing particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) concentrations in an urban street canyon along Sukhumvit Road, Samut Prakan Municipality, Thailand. Field measurements were conducted at pedestrian level (1.5 m height) across three sidewalk microenvironments: beneath tree canopies, between trees, and in open, non-vegetated areas. Real-time particle counters monitored PM levels, temperature, humidity, and wind speed over a two-week period. Results demonstrated consistently lower PM concentrations on sidewalk with street trees. Relative Difference in Concentration (RDC) analysis revealed negative values for 70.8% of PM₂.₅ (17/24) and 75.0% of PM₁₀ (18/24) measurements, with average reductions of 3.74% and 4.11%, respectively, beneath tree canopies. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) confirmed significant PM₁₀ reduction (p = 0.030), while PM₂.₅ differences were marginally non-significant (p = 0.058). Tree canopies also moderated microclimate conditions, lowering ambient temperature by 0.33°C and wind speed by 0.83 m/s compared to non-vegetated areas. These findings highlight street trees as effective, sustainable interventions for urban air quality improvement, particularly for coarse particle (PM₁₀) mitigation. The study provides actionable insights for urban planners and policymakers advocating nature-based solutions in high-density built environments.

Water-Saving Green Roofs for Pollinators

Shigeoki Moritani — 2026-04-28

Appropriately designed green roofs can function as water-saving irrigation systems and pollinator habitats. In this study, we evaluated a rooftop irrigation system using reclaimed water (simulated by diluted seawater up to 18 dS m⁻¹) to sustain vegetation (turf grass Cynodon dactylon and the Crassulacean acid metabolism [CAM] species Sedum kamtschaticum and S. oryzifolium) under drought and salinity stress. A stress factor, the time integral of the soil water potential that exceeds a threshold for normal growth, was used to quantify the accumulated plant stress. Moderate stress reduced total evapotranspiration but increased water use efficiency in CAM plants, indicating trade-offs between irrigation frequency and plant water use. Saline irrigation led to cation accumulation in leaves (Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and K⁺). Additionally, leaf extract electrical conductivity [ECleaf] was more reliable for assessing plant salt stress than drainage water electrical conductivity. However, ECleaf is not an absolute stress detector. Rather, it is a relative indicator that requires species-specific calibration. These findings support an integrated design framework that balances substrate properties, plant selection, climate conditions, and irrigation scheduling. Key recommendations include prioritizing drought- and salt-tolerant species (especially CAM plants) to reduce water demand, optimizing irrigation intervals to mitigate stress, and adopting renewable energy for automated irrigation. Integrating pollinator-friendly planting with efficient reclaimed water reuse can enhance the sustainability and resilience of green roof ecosystems. However, pollinator-habitat benefits remain theoretical. This demonstrates the need for direct field validation of flowering and visitation responses.

CR Disaster MAN: A Training Curriculum Model for Area-Based Flood Disaster Management and Evaluation Outcomes in Chiang Rai Province

Tongrak Jitbantao — 2026-04-28

This study aimed to design and evaluate the CR Disaster MAN (Chiang Rai Disaster Management and Networking) curriculum to address the lack of area‑specific disaster preparedness training in Chiang Rai province. The curriculum integrates disaster management principles, adult learning theory, community-based disaster risk management, psychological group processes, and resilience enhancement. The research employed a one-group pretest–posttest design with 200 samples, including community leaders, volunteers, government and local personnels in flood risk areas in Chiang Rai province. Data were collected using a knowledge test, satisfaction questionnaire, and training program evaluation. All collected data were analyzed using a descriptive statistics and paired sample T-test.

Results showed statistically significant improvement in disaster management knowledge after training (p < .001). Satisfaction with content, instruction, and technology support was at “the highest level” (M = 4.60, S.D. = 0.54). The modular design and participatory approach enable transferability to other flood‑risk areas in Thailand. The study highlights the importance of structured, evidence‑based training models in strengthening area‑based disaster management competency.

Green Supply Chain Management of Sustainable Rubber Industry

Pattatan Pimkinree — 2026-04-28

This study aims to analyze the supply chain of the natural rubber and rubberwood industry in Thailand across three levels: upstream, midstream, and downstream, and to propose guidelines for transitioning toward Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM).

The results indicate that the upstream stage generates greenhouse gas emissions of up to 6.4 tCO₂e from cultivation and approximately 35.90 kgCO₂e from chemical use. In the midstream stage, high energy consumption results in emissions of about 80.92 tCO₂e, with fuel and water usage averaging 0.033 and 0.028 gha/ton, respectively. In the downstream stage, emissions from electricity use and transportation are approximately 51.82 and 1.08 kgCO₂e, respectively. The GSCM approach can significantly reduce these impacts, for example, organic fertilizers can reduce emissions by 30–50%, biological inputs by 5–20%, and clean energy can reduce carbon emissions by approximately 0.9 kg CO₂/kWh.

Furthermore, integrating circular economy concepts, developing value-added products such as biofuels and recycled products, and promoting the role of consumers as “carbon stewards” contribute to the long-term sustainability of the rubber industry. The adoption of standards such as FSC and EUDR also enhances competitiveness in global markets, despite challenges related to costs and business adaptation.

Enhancing Value of Natural Waste by Converting It into Air-Filtration Media

Jasmin Mayi — 2026-04-28

This study investigates the properties and optimal conditions of air filter sheets and evaluates the air filtration efficiency of filter media produced from waste pineapple and bamboo leaves. The air filter sheets are fabricated from natural agricultural waste materials, specifically pineapple leaf fibres and bamboo fibres. Fabrication involved fibre quantities of 100, 200, and 300 grams combined with binder concentrations ranging from 5% to 20% by weight. The physical properties of the air filter sheets demonstrated favourable surface characteristics, including smooth texture, uniform colouration, and structurally intact fibres without evidence of tearing. Morphological analysis showed that the fibres were longitudinally aligned, densely packed, and mechanically robust. Comparative physical assessments indicated that pineapple leaf fibre exhibited lower water absorption and moisture retention than bamboo fibre, contributing to a higher dust removal efficiency of up to 70%, compared to 50% for bamboo-based filters. Despite these advantages, long-term use revealed challenges, including increased moisture accumulation and increased susceptibility to microbial growth. These findings suggest that pineapple leaf fibre is a promising biodegradable material for air filtration applications; however, further optimisation is necessary to enhance moisture resistance and incorporate antimicrobial functionality for sustained performance.

Systemic Value of Functional Based Clusters and Strategic Environmental Assessment Framework in Integrated River Basin Master Planning

Thodsapol Chatulabul — 2026-04-28

This article explores the systemic value of integrating the Function-Based Clusters (FBCs) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) framework into Thailand’s river basin master planning. The FBC–SEA approach combines functional zoning (F1–F6 with sub-zoning) with strategic assessment processes, thereby linking spatial logic with systemic analysis. The study highlights five key dimensions of water management: domestic water supply, productive and economic uses, water-related disasters, water quality and environment, and governance and management. Drawing from empirical studies on risk mapping, SEA implementation, and participatory water governance, the analysis demonstrates that FBC–SEA enhances upstream–downstream causal reasoning, strengthens participatory governance through functional-zone forums, improves climate resilience by facilitating scenario development, and provides measurable outputs such as policy maps, indicators, and dashboards. Furthermore, risk maps superimposed on FBC zones identify vulnerable areas and enable spatial prioritization to achieve equity across urban, agricultural, and marginalized communities. In contrast, conventional SEA applied without spatial-functional integration tends to remain fragmented and less effective in capturing systemic relationships and more oriented toward short-term measures. The study concludes that adopting the FBC–SEA framework in full can transform river basin master plans into living plans that are transparent, adaptive, and aligned with global agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement.

Does a Single-Use Leaf Bowl Enhance Well-Being and Reduce Carbon Footprint?

Soontree Khuntong — 2026-04-28

Carbon footprint (CF) became one of the valuable tools for assessment of greenhouse gas emission, resulting in global warming followed by the climate change, particularly in the food sector. The impact originated from food, food production, and packaging. Natural packaging was utilized for items such as wrappings, bowls, and bamboo tubes. These replaced modernized packages, including plastic bags and boxes as well as single-use polystyrene bowls. The latter significantly caused harm to both human health and the environment. These impacts led to the aims of this research, which were (1) to mold the leaf bowls from three types of leaves: Licuala spinosa, Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. ex G.Don., and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn followed by physical and biological testing; and (2) to assess the CF of each bowl compared to a polystyrene bowl. Molding factors were optimized using Minitab software. The optimized conditions were heating the leaves at 160^oC for 8 min, applying to all leaf types. The three different leaves were arranged parallel, perpendicular, and parallel to the vein, respectively. The leaf bowls from Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. ex G.Don. provided an elegant look, high tensile stress resistance, and leak resistance; moreover, no microbial contamination was observed until the 30^th day. CF was assessed from the optimized factors and calculated by emission factors (EF) from the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO). A total of 1.8055 kgCO₂eq of carbon dioxide was emitted per one leaf bowl under the optimum molding factors. The emission was approximately 60% less than polystyrene foam (2.985 kgCO₂eq per kg, excluding the molding process). The significant advantages of leaf bowls were (1) no emission from raw material, (2) no toxicity, and (3) no requirement for waste management.